Filling spout flushing system



Aug.18, 1970 G. SMITH I $5 8 FILLIIING SPOUT FLUSHING SYSTEM Filed Dec. 9, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 a id F162 INVENTOR GORDON SMITH BY 4%; M

ATTOR NEYS Aug. 18, 1970 GQSMITH I FILLING SPOUT FLUSHING SYSTEM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I Filed Dec.

H] ER FlGA INVENTOR GORDO N SMITH FIGS ATTORNEYS United States Patent Oflice 3,524,483 Patented Aug. 18, 1970 3,524,483 FILLING SPOUT FLUSHING SYSTE Gordon Smith, 2804 N. 44th St., Milwaukee, Wis. 53210 Filed Dec. 9, 1968, Ser. No. 782,341 Int. Cl. B65b 3/04 US. Cl. 141-90 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A system for automatically flushing bottle filling spouts to clear them of broken glass when a bottle breaks during the filling operation. A solenoid valve controls the water flow. The solenoid is actuated when a bottle breaks.

My invention relates to a filling spout flushing device, and more particularly, to a system for flushing particles of glass from the filling spout of a bottle filler, when a bottle breaks during the filling operation.

The prime object of my invention is to provide safety flushing systems that are electrically actuated only when a bottle being filled breaks.

Another object of my invention is to provide systems in which the electric circuit is open at all times of normal operation, and closed for the flushing operation, only when a bottle breaks.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a device of the character described, that is applicable to any existing bottle filling equipment.

It is manifest to those in the bottling industry, and anyone familiar with bottle filling equipment, that quite frequently a bottle will break during the filling operation, due to temperature variation, extra pressure exerted, faulty material, or the like. When a bottle breaks, particles of broken glass frequently adhere to the moist filling spout, which particles are deposited into the next bottle into which the spout is projected. This results in the particles of glass being consumed by the person drinking directly from the bottle. It is also a known fact that manual inspection will seldom reveal the particles of glass deposited on the bottom of the bottle.

The device described, illustrated, and claimed herein sprays water onto the outer peripheral surface of the filler tube as soon as a bottle breaks during the filling operation, thereby washing the glass particles from the tube so they will not be conveyed to the next bottle filled.

The device constituting my invention is simple in construction and positive in its performance.

Other and further objects of my invention will become more apparent as the description proceeds, when taken in conjunction with the various drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the spray-head in a neutral position, with the bottle in place during the filling operation;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the device with the spray-head in a down position when the bottle breaks, showing the particles of glass from the broken bottle being washed from the outer surface of the filler spout;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the entire device assembly in an empty position;

FIG. 4 is a similar schematic view of the assembly with the bottle ready for filling;

FIG. 5 is a similar view of the assembly with the bottle being filled; and

FIG. 6 is a similar view showing the bottle being broken and the spray-head in operation.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and referring now to the same, the character 10 shows a filler spout, slidably engaging a conventional lifting unit 11 at its upper end, and slidably engaging a fixed plate 12 supported in any convenient manner at 13. The filler spout 10 has a water housing 14 attached to its outer periphery at 15. This water housing 14 is provided with an aperture within its lower plate, which aperture provides a space 16 around the filler spout 10.

The intake for water supply for the housing 14 is shown at 17, and the water supply line is equipped with a solenoid actuated valve 18. i

There are contacts 19 shown as having one terminal attached to the housing 14 at 20. The terminal engages an aperture 21 in the plate 12, so that the contacts 19 are open and not engaging one another, when the housing 14 is in a raised position when it is in contact with the top of the bottle 22 at 23, as shown in FIG. 1.

When the bottle 22 breaks (see FIG. 2), the water housing 14 will drop, closing the contacts 19 to actuate the solenoid valve 18 in the water supply line 17. Responsive to the actuation of the valve, water enters the water housing and is forced through the space 16 in the bottom of the housing 14. The water after passing through space flushes the particles of glass shown as 24 from the outer peripheral surface of the filler spout 10.

The various steps in the operation of the device during the filling of the bottle, are shown in the schematic sketches FIGS. 3-6 inclusive.

FIG. 3 shows the device in an empty position, that is, without a bottle in which case the valve operating circuit is open, inasmuch as the contacts 19 are closed and the contacts 26 are open. When a bottle 22 rests on the bottle support 25, as shown in FIG. 4, the contacts 19 are still closed, and the contacts 26 are still open. However, when the bottle support 25 with the bottle thereon is raised upward for filling of the bottle through spout 10, as shown in FIG. 5, the contacts 19 will be opened and the contacts 26 will be closed. Thus, the valve operating the circuit is still open.

By referring to FIG. 6, it will be noted that when the bottle 22 breaks, the contacts 26 remain closed, but the water housing 14 drops and closes the contacts 19. Therefore, when the bottle breaks, both contacts 19 and 26 are closed to complete the circuit thereby actuating the solenoid in the valve 18 to open the valve, enabling the water to enter the housing 14. The water fiows through opening 16, in the water housing 14, to contact the periphery of spout 10 thereby washing the particles of glass 24 which may be adhered to the spout 10 downward, and leaving the spout 10 clean for the next bottle to be filled.

From the above description, it will become manifest that the device is fully automatic in operation, and although I have shown a specific structure and arrangement of the parts, I am fully cognizant of the fact that changes may be made to fit the existing bottle filling equipment, and I reserve the rights to make such changes without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent in the United States is: 1. Automatic bottle filling equipment that includes filler spout means that is inserted into the bottles for filling said bottles with fluid drawn through said filler spout means,

said equipment comprising water housing means attached to the outer periphery of said spout means,

aperture means for enabling water from said water housing means to flush clean the outside of said filler spout, and

water supply means for providing water to said housing means responsive to the breaking of a bottle being filled by said equipment.

2. The equipment of claim' l wherein said filler spout means hasa raised position aura-lemmas position," and" elevating means including abottle being filled for maintaining said filler spout means in the raised position.

3. The equipment of claim 2 wherein said elevating means comprises bottle platform bottles to be filled, I said platform having a 'lower position for] receiving said bottles and a raised position for enablingthe in sertion of said filler spout means.

4. The equipment of claim '3 wherein said vvater siipply' means coupledto said vva means comprises water intake ter housing means,

solenoid valve means for automatically "connecting said 1 l5 water intake means to a source Of'WaterQand' electrical circuit means for opening said solenoid valve responsive to the breaking of a bottle being filled.

5. The equipment of claim 4 wherein"s'aid'electrical circuit means comprises a source of electrical power, and

means for supporting means for connecting said 'so'lenoid'valve to' said source 20 to open said valve responsive to the breakin'g'of a bottle being filled.

6. The equipment of claim 5 wherein said connecting means comprises first and second contact means serially connected betvveen said power source and said solenoid References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3/1928 Dary 137-470 V FOREIGNLPATENTS 1 ii/195s France.

:QEIGER, Primary Examiner R. I. I SHER', Assistant Examiner U.S. c1. X.R. 

